Entries by David Hetherington

Is planned maintenance value for money?

Now there’s a question to get the brain cells working. For many, to even question the assertion that planned maintenance delivers value for money is heresy. But is it?  Given that the vast majority of social housing has been modernised in the last 15 years and most have “reasonably modern” facilities, is continuing with component […]

New Year Honour for Northern Housing Consortium’s Chief Executive

Jo Boaden, Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) and Chair of Your Homes Newcastle, has been awarded a CBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Years’ Honours 2018. The award was made in recognition of services to housing providers in the North during a long career in housing. “I was very surprised but […]

NHC responds to HCA’s Value for Money Consultation

In September the Homes and Communities Agency published a consultation on a revised Value for Money (VfM) Standard. The consultation proposed to revise the VfM Standard and publish a new associated Code of Practice to help registered providers understand how compliance with the new Standard might be achieved. The proposed Standard aims to move the […]

Closure of the gateway to new Universal Credit live service claims

The 2017 Autumn Statement announced that the Universal Credit live service will cease to take new claims from 1st January 2018. This is part of the transition to a full digital service and continues the Government’s focus on work, independence and reducing reliance on welfare. The Department for Work and Pensions has published a bulletin […]

Universal Credit report highlights difficulties for landlords and tenants

A report released today warns of the difficulties social landlords are still facing from the roll-out of Universal Credit (UC). In light of recent changes to UC in the Autumn Budget, the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) today launched its report, Impact of Universal Credit – The Frontline Perspective, which summarises the results of a year-long […]

Protecting consumers in the letting agent market: call for evidence

On 1st  October 2017, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced proposals to address the imbalance of power in the private rented market by regulating letting and managing agents. A call for evidence sought views on a new regulatory model and how best to protect and empower tenants and leaseholders. The Northern […]